Winged Visor

ABSTRACT

A winged visor. A curved front section is bordered on each side by two horizontal wings. The winged visor provides protection to the wearer&#39;s face from the sun while optimizing peripheral vision. In a preferred embodiment, the winged visor is fabricated from thin, bendable plastic and is sewn into the brim of a wide brim hat. The wide brim hat further includes eyelets for ventilation and a removable chin strap.

The present invention relates to hats and caps, and in particular, to hat and cap visors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hats, caps and other head coverings are well known and have existed for many centuries. There are many styles and types of hats. Some are designed for warmth and some are designed for fashion. A primary reason for the wearing of hat is to provide protection from the sun. With the increase of skin cancers and sun related skin problems it is essential to protect the skin. A hat with a very wide brim, such as a sombrero, provides excellent protection from the sun. However, the sombrero is a very large hat and is not very fashionable or practical in modern society. Smaller hats with smaller brims are easier to wear but do not provide optimum protection.

FIG. 1 shows a woman wearing a prior art hat 50. Hat 50 is a soft hat and is comfortable. However, it includes a brim that does not provide optimum protection from the sun. If the brim of hat 50 were to get wet it could begin to droop and interfere with her peripheral vision. Also, the section of the brim in front of her face is droopy and soft and interferes with her vision.

What is needed is a device to make hats function better in protecting the wearer's face against harmful sun rays while optimizing peripheral vision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a winged visor. A curved front section is bordered on each side by two horizontal wings. The winged visor provides protection to the wearer's face from the sun while optimizing peripheral vision. In a preferred embodiment, the winged visor is fabricated from thin, bendable plastic and is sewn into the brim of a wide brim hat. The wide brim hat further includes eyelets for ventilation and a removable chin strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art hat.

FIGS. 2-4 show a preferred winged visor.

FIG. 5 shows a winged visor as a stiffener.

FIGS. 6-7 show a winged visor sewn into the bill of a ball cap.

FIGS. 8-9 show a winged visor sewn into the brim of a wide brim hat.

FIGS. 10-11 show a winged visor sewn into the brim of a visor.

FIG. 12 shows a protection range of a preferred winged visor.

FIG. 13 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14-16 show a preferred eyelet.

FIGS. 17-18 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 19-23 show a preferred removable chin strap.

FIGS. 24-29 show methods of connecting a preferred removable chins strap.

FIG. 30-32 show another preferred eyelet.

FIGS. 33-35 show another preferred eyelet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2-4 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Winged visor 2 has been cut from a flat sheet of strong, thin bendable plastic in the preferred shape shown in FIG. 3. Winged visor 2 is then bent along creases 5 (FIG. 4) to obtain the shape shown in FIG. 2. Winged visor 2 includes a curved front section 4 and side wings 3. Winged visor 2 provides for an increased range of protection from the sun (FIG. 12). Also, because wings 3 are horizontal they do not interfere with the peripheral vision of the wearer.

In a preferred embodiment, winged visor 2 is utilized as a stiffener for the bill of a ball cap, visor or hat. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 winged visor 2 is sewn into bill material 6 by utilization of thread 7 to form a stiffener for the bill. Winged visor 2 retains its shape after being sewn into the bill to provide optimum sun protection.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a preferred ball cap 8. Ball cap 8 includes winged visor 2. Wings 3 of winged visor 2 provide additional protection from the sun while also allowing for increased viewing for the wearer. Additionally, curved section 4 allows for optimum viewing forward.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a preferred wide brim hat 9. Wide brim hat 9 includes winged visor 2. Wings 3 of winged visor 2 provide additional protection from the sun while also allowing for increased viewing for the wearer. Additionally, curved section 4 allows for optimum viewing forward. Soft, flexible fabric of brim 10 is kept away from the wearer's face by wings 3.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a preferred visor 11. Visor 11 with head band 12 includes winged visor 2. Wings 3 of winged visor 2 provide additional protection from the sun while also allowing for increased viewing for the wearer. Additionally, curved section 4 allows for optimum viewing forward.

FIGS. 13, 17-18 show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Wide brim hat 20 includes winged visor 2 sewn into the brim 21. Hat 20 includes crown adjustment strap 22 that can be tightened or loosened to adjust the pressure on the wearer's head. Hat 20 also includes eyelets 23 to allow for increased ventilation and comfort to the wearer. Removable chin strap 24 is inserted through brim 21 as shown.

FIGS. 14-16 show a front view, side view and top view of a preferred eyelet 23. Preferably four eyelets 23 are sewn into crown 25 of hat 20. Eyelet 23 includes mesh fabric 26 partially covered by plastic cover 27. Plastic cover 27 is rigidly connected to elliptical plastic frame 50. Mesh fabric 26 allows for good ventilation while also keeping unwanted insects and debris from entering the hat.

FIGS. 30-32 show preferred eyelet 60. Eyelet 60 includes a ventilation opening bordered by elliptical plastic frame 61 and partially covered by plastic cover 62. Plastic cover 62 is rigidly connected to elliptical plastic frame 61. The ventilation opening allows for good ventilation while plastic cover 62 functions to keep unwanted insects and debris from entering the hat.

FIGS. 33-35 show preferred eyelet 70. Eyelet 70 is similar to eyelet 60 except that plastic cover 72 is curved at its bottom. Eyelet 70 includes a ventilation opening bordered by elliptical plastic frame 71 and partially covered by plastic cover 72. Plastic cover 72 is rigidly connected to elliptical plastic frame 71. The ventilation opening allows for good ventilation while plastic cover 72 functions to keep unwanted insects and debris from entering the hat.

FIG. 19 shows slot 30 sewn into brim 21. Slot 30 allows for the insertion of plastic end piece 31 of removable chin strap 24. Strap 32 is connected to end pieces 31 and is threaded though strap position lock device 33. Also, strap 32 is threaded through alligator clip 34 as shown. Alligator clip 34 allows for chin strap 24 to function as a leash. For example, the wearer can attach alligator clip 34 to clothing he is wearing to prevent hat 20 from being blown away.

FIGS. 24, 27 and 28 show removable chin strap 24 in its normal position attached to hat 20.

In FIG. 26 chin strap 24 has been moved from its position in FIG. 24 and repositioned so that it rests on the rear portion of brim 21 and out of the way of the wearer.

In FIG. 25 chin strap 24 has been removed and the reinstalled so that end pieces 31 are inserted through slots 30 (FIG. 19) and are underneath brim 21. Chin strap 24 has been positioned so that it rests on the rear portion of brim 21 and out of the way of the wearer.

In FIG. 29 chin strap 24 has been removed and the reinstalled so that end pieces 31 are inserted through slots 30 (FIG. 19) and are underneath brim 21. Chin strap 24 runs over the top of brim 21 so that the side area of brim 21 presses downward towards the wearer's ears to provide increased ear protection for the wearer.

While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, the reader should consider these described embodiments only as particular embodiments. Many other embodiments are possible. For example, even though FIG. 13 shows eyelets 23 in combination with visor 2 and removable chin strap 24, it should be understood that each of these items could be used independently on a variety of hat types. Eyelets 23 could be sewn into the crown of any hat and removable chin strap 24 could be applied to the brim of any hat. Therefore, the reader should determine the scope of the present invention by the claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A winged visor comprising: A. a curved front section, and B. two horizontal wings, each connected to said curved front section on opposite sides of said curved front section, wherein said winged visor provides protection to the wearer's face from the sun while optimizing peripheral vision.
 2. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said two horizontal wings are bendably connected to said curved front section.
 3. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor is a fabricated from flexible, bendable thin plastic.
 4. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor is a stiffener sewn into the bill of a hat.
 5. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor sewn into the bill of ball cap.
 6. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor is sewn into the bill of a wide brim hat.
 7. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor is sewn into the bill of a visor.
 8. The winged visor as in claim 1, wherein said winged visor is sewn into the brim of a wide brim hat, said wide brim hat comprising: A. a plurality of eyelets for ventilation, B. a crown adjustment strap for adjusting the tension of the crown on the head of the wearer, and C. a removable chin strap.
 9. The winged visor as in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of eyelets comprises: A. a mesh fabric, and B. a plastic cover covering said mesh fabric.
 10. The winged visor as in claim 8, wherein brim of said removable chin strap comprises: A. a plurality of end pieces connected to each end of said removable chin strap, B. a strap position lock device for locking the position of said chin strap, and C. an alligator clip for securing said chin strap.
 11. The winged visor as in claim 10 wherein said wide brim hat comprises a plurality of slots for receiving said plurality of end pieces.
 12. A hat, comprising a plurality of eyelets, each said eyelet comprising: A. a frame bordering a ventilation opening, and B. a cover rigidly connected to said frame partially covering said ventilation opening.
 13. The hat as in claim 12, further comprising a mesh fabric connected to said frame and partially covered by said cover.
 14. A hat comprising a brim having two slots for receiving a removable chin strap, said removable chin strap comprising: A. a plurality of end pieces connected to each end of said removable chin strap and for insertion into said two slots, B. a strap position lock device for locking the position of said chin strap, and C. an alligator clip for securing said chin strap. 